Anyone feel odd the first time they carried?

[Filbird]

I expect to receive my CCW permit within the next 3-4 weeks. I have neither military nor LEO experience, but fired a variety of handguns, rifles, and shotguns when I was younger, and have recently started shooting again.

I've never carried a loaded handgun in public before. While walking the dog this morning, I started to think about the first time that I'll actually strap on a handgun and tuck it under my shirt. I expect it's going to feel odd... for those of you who DO carry, did you also feel that way, and how long before that feeling faded?

I took a local group's handgun safety course to satisfy the VA state requirement, and will follow up with more in-depth courses to ensure I fully understand the ramifications of VA laws, etc. And I will continue to test fire various weapons until I figure out which is the best for me to carry. But, no matter what, I expect to feel just a little bit different the first time I wear a gun.

 

[Iggy]

I think most everybody does. It is amazing how many head straight for Walmart for their first voyage into CCW.

Just remember, the sheeple are not looking at you. You could probably put a bulls eye on your forehead and no one will notice.

Think about this. How much time did you spend examining other people's pockets and waistbands etc., before you decided to make the commitment to carry?


You will get over the nervousness after a few times out in the world. Then you will have the same feeling when you don't have a gun.

 

[Massad Ayoob]

Iggy's right, Filbird. Probably all of us felt awkward with it at first.

Remember when you were a little boy and got your first wallet? And felt like a big wallet with a little kid attached? Carrying concealed for the first time is somewhat like that.

But notice how now, if you go out without your wallet, you're acutely aware that something's missing that you might need? It'll get like that with the gun, too.

Good luck,
Mas

 

[GatorFarmer]

Open carry is perfectly legal in VA. You don't have to wait until your permit comes if you don't want to, you're free to openly wear a gun while you walk the dog, take out the trash, etc. Whether or not anyone notices or cares will depend to a large extent on what county you live in.

Anyway, at first you'll probably worry that everyone will notice, that there's a telltale bulge, etc. Soon you'll realize that most people are oblivious.

 

[fiasconva]

Filbird, you are doing all the right things so far. Just remember that you can still open carry here in VA without a permit. Most people have no idea who is carrying and who isn't. Give yourself a test and go to your local mall and try to see if you can spot the people carrying. It's a lot harder than you think and you are actually TRYING to spot someone.

 

[palmetto99]

I've had my CWP for about a year and I have to say that it did feel very odd the first few times I was out and about. But, much like Mr. Ayoob's example of the wallet, it's become something akin to second nature (most of the time anyway).

I almost never leave the house for my evening walks without my EDC.

I will say that I do pay attention to other people now. Whenever I see a man with a fanny pack and I'm nowhere near a hiking trail, I think gun.

Gatorfarmer has it right, most people are oblivious.

 

[Filbird]

I appreciate the comments. I kind of feel that it would be more odd to NOT feel odd the first time around.

Funny that we've gotten to the point in this culture where it would feel odd. I have not told most of my friends that I plan to carry soon, and suspect most of them would think I was nuts, or "wild west," or something like that.

But I can't get out of my head the experience I had a few months ago... walking the dog at midnight and noticing that someone was watching me and walking parallel with me in a little park across the street. Nothing came of it, I took the next side street and got the dog to pick up the pace, but I won't soon forget the feeling of utter vulnerability. The Richmond PD is very good, but anyone who thinks that they could have helped me in time if that clown across the way had wanted to rob me or worse, is crazy.

I hope to Christ I never have to pull my gun, but it would be ten times worse to need to pull it, and not have it.

 

[Erich]

I remember the first time I carried. It felt weird.

Man, that was a LONG time ago.

 

[flop-shank]

Carry religiously around the house before you go out in public. That will help you get your setup dialed. If there's a glitch, best to find it there. My first time out I wore two or three guns IIRC. One was a 4" 586. No one noticed.

 

[owb3]

Yes, it was very wierd at first. I've had my license about six weeks and am getting comfortable. I have to go on a bus trip out of state to Chicago and will not be carrying for the first time and expect to feel odd. Also, I am still going through various situations for the first time carrying (like carrying in a good friend's house who would be shocked to know) and expect that to happen for a while.

 

[cmort666]

It didn't feel strange for long.

You want a strange feeling? Walk through downtown Chicago after midnight WITHOUT a gun.

 

[The Big D]

Filbird, I suspect you'll feel something the first few times. It's hard to say exactly what it is...it's just "different." You will get used to it in due course.

I recall my first time as a LEO newly entrusted (midst rookie school) with a gun beyond the range. They gave us our Model 10's and sent us off into the world at EOT one afternoon. No advance warning but we were instructed not to load up in the parking lot and stop by the bar on the way home.

Next morning all of us showed up for class with our guns in a wide variety of modes. Some had IWB's, some had belt holsters covered with jackets, one had a shoulder rig, and a few had theirs in the box in which it was received. Of course my carpool buddy and I stopped by every "stop and rob" we could locate on the way in.

At that time we probably would've been more liabilities than assets.

Ahhhh, the good old days!

Be safe.

 

[eggfarmer]

Yes and every time I try a new holster.
I tried out a cheap Uncle Mike clip on
IWB today and I kept thinking it was going to pop out. I must have had my hand on it every few seconds checking it. It felt really bad and paranoid.

 

[straightshooter1]

I have been carrying concealed since 1968. My first "off-duty" gun as a young policeman was a Pre-war, nickel, 4" M&P that one of the Captains gave me till I could afford something "better."

I carried "Mexican" with a shirt covering it and was sure that it stuck out so far that everyone knew it was there. Within a couple of months, I had my first J-frame and never, to the best of my knowledge was "made."

But there was that time in the supermarket, when my gun slipped down my pants, out the bottom of my jeans to the floor and, as I reacted, I kicked it halfway down the frozen food isle in front of all those old ladies....

Bob

 

[photoman]

A friend of mine went to the local Wal-Mart and, low and behold, there was "Bubba" who he hadn't seen in a long time. They had a chat and then my friend noticed Bubba was walking around in broad daylight with his .45 automatic on for the whole world to see.

It was at that point that Bubba realized he had been walking around the store for 45 minutes without his coat on! Not even one peep from anybody!

Most people out there are so wrapped up in their own little world I think you could walk around nekkid and they wouldn't notice.

 

[Spotteddog]

It'll feel odd for a time. Mas' description is about the best I've read for it. As usual! (You DO know who he is, don't you?)

 

[Filbird]

Originally posted by Spotteddog:
It'll feel odd for a time. Mas' description is about the best I've read for it. As usual! (You DO know who he is, don't you?)

I did not realize that he was a member, and did not want to sound like a school girl

But, yes, I know who he is, and hearing that he felt odd the first time, considering his experience, training, and stature, made me feel quite a bit better about my own expected reaction to carrying my first concealed pistol!

 

[Spotteddog]

Well then, you acted better than I did the first time he responded to something I said! 'Cause I nearly piddled myself!

 

[yes]

I felt like I was wearing the gun on my forehead the first time I went out armed. I went to the mall. I walked around. I bought some items. I spoke with several shop clerks. Nobody knew a thing. After a week or so, I was fine. But the thing that struck me the most, and has stayed with me to this day, is the reality that those people I dealt with that day had no idea who THEY were dealing with. They had no clue I was armed, that they could have reached out a touched a loaded firearm at any time. I really drove home the fact that none of us know who we are dealing with out in public when we interact with strangers. That, really is why I carry the gun in the first place and that first time out with it drove the point home.

 

[Smitty500Mag]

Anyone feel odd the first time they carried?

Actually I felt nuts but then I realized it was just a hole in my pocket.

Smitty